Manila Bulletin
China allows Coast Guard to detain foreigners illegally entering into its waters — report
China's Coast Guard will be empowered to detain foreigners suspected of "illegally crossing" its borders in the South China Sea for up to 60 days without trial, starting June 15.
This new regulation was detailed in an article published by the South China Morning Post on May 16.
The new rules coincide with a recent Philippine civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea, an area that overlaps with China's expansive claims.
The West Philippine Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, is within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Filipino fisherfolk reported spotting a pipe installation "in the middle of" the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson previously called China's directive an 'illegal action,' citing China's justification based on its 'imaginary nine-dash line.'
Amid these escalating tensions, the Philippines is set to acquire five additional patrol ships from Japan through a P23.85-billion deal.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya dismissed China's announcement of arresting and detaining trespassers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as a mere "scare tactic" and urged Filipinos to continue their activities there.
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stated that China's new regulation allowing its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea, effective June 15, contradicts the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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The Philippines, through Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, declared it does not recognize China's new maritime rule allowing its coast guard to detain foreigners in disputed waters.
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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) detained a Sierra Leone-flagged merchant vessel, MT Hyperline 988, with seven Chinese crew members in San Felipe, Zambales on Thursday, May 16.
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House Speaker Martin Romualdez stated that the House of Representatives will not tolerate the arrest of Filipinos within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by Chinese authorities.
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